Anticoccidial composition comprising stilbene-based compound, and use thereof

ABSTRACT

The present application relates to an anticoccidial composition comprising a stilbene-based compound, and a use thereof. A composition comprising a compound or a salt thereof, according to one embodiment, has excellent effects of direct killing of protozoa that can induce coccidiosis, inhibiting the cell penetration of the protozoa and/or inhibiting the intracellular proliferation of the protozoa, and preventing, alleviating, and treating in vivo coccidiosis.

TECHNICAL FIELD Cross-Reference to Related Application(s)

The present application claims the benefit of the priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0125242 filed on Sep. 25, 2020, and the entire contents disclosed in the document of the corresponding Korean patent application are incorporated as a part of the present description.

The present application relates to an anticoccidial composition comprising a stilbene-based compound and uses thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

Coccidiosis is an intestinal-related disease caused by a protozoan parasite belonging to the phylum apicomplexan called Eimeria, and when affected with coccidiosis, symptoms of digestive disorders, diarrhea and weight loss are shown, and furthermore, death of livestock is caused, and therefore, it has a major economic impact on farms around the world (Williams R B. A compartmentalised model for the estimation of the cost of coccidiosis to the world's chicken production industry. Int J Parasitol. 1999; 29(8):1209-1229).

Over the past few years, many researchers have developed anticoccidial agents such as ionophores or chemically synthetic compounds, which can prevent oocyst cell wall formation or asexual and sexual reproduction of protozoa as therapeutic agents for treating coccidiosis. However, side effects such as appearance of protozoa with drug resistance due to the long-term use of a shuttle program that alternately treats the ionophores and chemically synthetic compounds and the like occurred.

In particular, antibiotics accumulated in animals due to misuse and abuse of antibiotics are a serious problem as humans consume antibiotics through meat, and therefore, antibiotic administration are being banned in many countries around the world due to the problem of antibiotic residues in livestock products. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop and research alternatives to conventional anticoccidial agents that exhibit side effects such as emergence and internal residue of strains resistant to drugs.

Accordingly, the inventors of the present application have completed the present invention by confirming that stilbene-based compound had excellent anticoccidial activity and antiprotozoal activity against protozoa exhibiting coccidiosis.

PRIOR ART Patent Document

-   -   (Patent document 1) U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008-0160000

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

One embodiment of the present application provides a feed composition for preventing, or alleviating coccidiosis, comprising a compound of Chemical formula 1 below, or a salt thereof as an active ingredient.

Another embodiment of the present application provides a pharmaceutical composition for preventing, or treating coccidiosis, comprising a compound of Chemical formula 1 below, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient.

Other embodiment of the present application provides an antiprotozoal composition against an Eimeria sp. protozoan, comprising a compound of Chemical formula 1 below, or a salt thereof as an active ingredient.

Other embodiment of the present application provides a method for preventing, alleviating or treating coccidiosis, comprising a step of administering the composition to an animal except for human.

Other embodiment of the present application provides a use of a compound of Chemical formula 1 below, or a salt thereof for using in preventing, alleviating or treating coccidiosis.

Other embodiment of the present application provides a use of a compound of Chemical formula 1 below, or a salt thereof for the manufacture of a feed composition for preventing or alleviating coccidiosis.

Other embodiment of the present application provides a use of a compound of Chemical formula 1 below, or a salt thereof for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating coccidiosis.

Other embodiment of the present application provides a use of a compound of Chemical formula 1 below or a salt thereof for the manufacture of a composition (for example, feed composition, pharmaceutical composition) for preventing, alleviating and/or treating coccidiosis or an antiprotozoal composition; a use of a compound of Chemical formula 1 or a salt thereof for using in preventing, alleviating and/or treating coccidiosis; and/or a use of a compound of Chemical formula 1 or a salt thereof for using in antiprotozoan (for example, Eimeria sp. protozoal killing; and/or cell invasion and/or propagation inhibition of the Eimeria sp. protozoan) against an Eimeria sp. protozoan.

Technical Solution

The present application relates to a technology of providing a stilbene-based compound as an active ingredient having activity of preventing, alleviating or treating coccidiosis. In one embodiment, the stilbene-based compound may be a compound of Chemical formula 1 below.

One aspect, may provide a feed composition for preventing or alleviating coccidiosis, comprising a compound of Chemical formula 1 below or a salt thereof.

In the Chemical formula 1,

R₁ and R₂ may be each independently OH or OCH₃.

In one embodiment, the R₁ and R₂ may be each OCH₃.

In another embodiment, the R₁ and R₂ may be each OH.

In another embodiment, the R₁ may be OH, and the R₂ may be OCH₃.

In one embodiment, the compound of Chemical formula 1 may be a compound selected from the group consisting of the following compounds:

-   -   1) 3,5-Dimethoxy-4′-hydroxystilbene;     -   2) 3,4,5-trihydroxystilbene and     -   3) 3-Methoxy-4′,5-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene.

The 3,5-Dimethoxy-4′-hydroxystilbene has the chemical formula of C₁₆H₁₆O₃, and may be named pterostilbene, and is a compound having the structure of Chemical formula 2 below, and may be CAS No. 537-42-8.

The 3,4,5-trihydroxystilbene has the chemical of C₁₄H₁₂O₃, and may be named resveratrol, and is a compound having the structure of Chemical formula 3 below, and may be CAS No. 503-36-0.

The 3-Methoxy-4′,5-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene has the chemical formula of C₁₅H₁₄O₃, and may be named pinostilbene, and is a compound having the structure of Chemical formula 4 below, and may be CAS No. 42438-89-1.

The compound of Chemical formula 1 or salt thereof may be purchased as commercially available one, or be obtained by extracting and separating from a natural product or a strain, and be prepared by a common organic synthesis method, but not limited thereto.

For example, it may be obtained by directly separating from a species belonging to the genus of Escherichia, Saccharomyces, Corynebacterium, or be obtained from a manufacturer in the art, but not limited thereto.

Accordingly, the inventors of the present application have confirmed that the stilbene compound has excellent antiprotozoal activity against protozoa exhibiting anticoccidial activity and coccidiosis, thereby completing the present invention.

The “salt of the compound of Chemical formula 1” in the present application, may mean a physiologically acceptable salt among salts which are substances in which a cation and an anion are combined by electrostatic attraction, and for example, may mean a salt acceptable for a feed composition, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, and/or an antiprotozoal composition. For example, the salt may be at least one selected from the group consisting of metal salts, salts with organic bases, salts with inorganic acids, salts with organic acids, salts with basic or acidic amino acids, and the like. In one embodiment, the metal salt may be at least one selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts (sodium salt, potassium salt, etc.), alkali earth metal salts (calcium salt, magnesium salt, barium salt, etc.), aluminum salts and the like; and the salt with organic bases may be at least one selected from the group consisting of salts with triethylamine, pyridine, picoline, 2,6-lutidine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, cyclohexylamine, dicyclohexylamine, N,N-dibenzylethylenediamine, and the like; and the salts with inorganic acids may be at least one selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid and the like; and the salt with organic acids may be at least one selected from the group consisting of salts with formic acid, acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, phthalic acid, fumaric acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, maleic acid, citric acid, succinic acid, methane sulfonic acid, benzene sulfonic acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid, and the like; and the salt with basic amino acids may be at least one selected from the group consisting of salts with arginine, lysine, ornithine and the like; and the salt with acidic amino acids may be at least one selected from the group consisting of salts with aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and the like.

In the present application, the excellent anticoccidial efficacy (activity, effect) may mean at least one (for example, any one, 2 or more kinds, 3 or more kinds, or all) selected from the group consisting of the following (1) to (5):

-   -   (1) a higher anticoccidial index (ACI) compared to the control         group;     -   (2) reduced mortality, lesion score (for example, appendix         lesion score) and/or fecal oocyst excretion amount compared to         the control group when administered to a coccidiosis-induced         animal subject;     -   (3) inhibition of weight loss by induction of coccidiosis;     -   (4) higher insecticidal activity against protozoa which induce         coccidiosis compared to the control group; and     -   (5) a higher inhibitory effect of cell invasion of protozoa         which induce coccidiosis and/or propagation of the protozoa in         cells compared to the control group.

In the present application, the control group may mean a negative control group (a group in which nothing is treated or water and/or a buffer treatment group) and/or a positive control group comprising a conventionally known anticoccidial agent (for example, diclazuril, salinomycin and/or gallic acid).

The composition according to one embodiment may have at least one (for example, one or more kinds, 2 or more kinds, 3 or more kinds, 4 or more kinds, 5 or more kinds or all of 6 kinds) characteristics selected from the group consisting of the following (1) to (6), and its characteristic may be more excellent than the control group:

-   -   (1) excellent anticoccidial activity;     -   (2) excellent antiprotozoal effect against protozoa which induce         coccidiosis;     -   (3) excellent acid resistance;     -   (4) excellent heat resistance;     -   (5) excellent in vivo stability and/or safety; and     -   (6) excellent weight gain improvement effect.

The composition according to one embodiment has excellent acid resistance and/or heat resistance, thereby maintaining the excellent anticoccidial activity for a long period of time when administered to a body, and has in vivo stability, thereby maintaining the excellent anticoccidial activity even in an environment in various temperature and/or pH ranges, and it may be applicable for various products (for example, feed additives), and the storage stability may be excellent.

The composition according to one embodiment is not absorbed by other tissue and organs (for example, blood, liver, kidney and/or spleen, etc.) other than intestines when administered in vivo, and therefore, has a low residue in a body, and thus, it may have excellent safety in vivo.

In one embodiment, the excellent weight gain improvement effect may mean an excellent effect of increasing a body weight of a subject when administered to the subject, and in one embodiment, the weight gain may mean daily weight gain, and the subject may be a subject in which coccidiosis is induced.

The composition according to one embodiment exhibits the anticoccidial activity equivalent or more than conventional known anticoccidial agents (for example, sulfa agents such as sulfaquinoxaline, sulfachloropyrazine and sulfamethazine, polyether ionophore antibiotics such as salinomycin and monensin sodium, amprolium, diclazuril, gallic acid and/or toltrazuril), and it may be safe to use for a long period of time as it does not cause side effects or drug resistance.

In the present application, “prevention” means all acts that inhibit or delay development of disease by administration of the composition according to one embodiment, and “treatment” means all acts which alleviate or beneficially change symptoms of doubt and onset subjects of disease by administration of the composition according to one embodiment, and “alleviation” may mean all acts which reduce parameters associated with the condition where disease is treated by administration of the composition according to one embodiment, for example, at least the degree of symptoms. The disease may mean coccidiosis.

In the present application, “coccidiosis” is a disease in which a coccidium protozoan (protozoan which can induce coccidiosis, for example, Eimeria sp. coccidium protozoan) parasitizes in the cytoplasm of submucosal tissue in the epithelium of the digestive tract and destroys the epithelium and cause enteritis, and is a protozoal disease that causes economic damage due to weight gain degradation by soft stool, diarrhea and bloody stool and prolongation of the shipping age in a broiler farm. Coccidiosis may be expressed not only in broilers but also in birds and mammals, and specifically, the coccidiosis may infect cattle, rabbits, goats, dogs, cats, mice which are experimental animals, and rats, and the like, and in particular, it may cause fatal damage to poultry such as chickens and the like. In one embodiment, the coccidiosis may include acute coccidiosis, subacute coccidiosis, and chronic coccidiosis and the like. The acute coccidiosis may exhibit bloody stool, energy loss and anemia within 48 hours after infection, and the infected subject may die, and the subacute coccidiosis may exhibit bloody diarrhea and/or anemia symptoms after infection, and the chronic coccidiosis may exhibit symptoms of soft stool and/or body weight loss after diarrhea for 1-2 days after infection.

When an oocyst (cyst, egg) of the coccidium protozoan species matures into a sporulated oocyst at high humidity and temperature, it is infectious, and when the oocyst is excreted in feces after passing through a certain life cycle in a body of a subject, it spreads easily and the life cycle of the oocyst is repeated. It is known that the oocytes (cyst) of the coccidium protozoan species are highly resistant to the external environment, and the cyst wall consists of two layers inside and outside. The outer layer of the cyst wall is a gelatin material that strongly resists external physical pressure and the inner layer is rich in nuclear proteins, so it may strongly resist chemical stimuli, for example, disinfectants. The oocyst of the coccidium protozoan species may comprise 4 sporocysts, and the sporocysts may each comprise 2 sporozoites, and they may be released in a form of sporocyst and sporozoite after infection to an animal in an oocyst form, and proliferate in cells, and the sporozoites that have undergone sexual reproduction and/or asexual reproduction may form an oocyst and be extracted in feces. In one embodiment, the sporozoite may be used in the same meaning as a protozoan, and the sporozoite (protozoan) may cause lesions.

According to one embodiment, the coccidiosis may be caused by an Eimeria sp. protozoan. In one embodiment, the Eimeria sp. protozoan may be at least one selected from the group consisting of Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria tenella, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria brunetti, Eimeria hagani, Eimeria mitis, Eimeria praecox, Eimeria mivati, Eimeria aurati, Eimeria baueri, Eimeria lepidosirenis, Eimeria leucisci, Eimeria rutile, Eimeria vanasi, Eimeria amphisbaeniarum, Eimeria witchery, Eimeria yemenensae, Eimeria adenoeides, Eimeria colchici, Eimeria curvata, Eimeria dispersa, Eimeria duodenalis, Eimeria fraterculae, Eimeria gallopavonis, Eimeria innocua, Eimeria meleagridis, Eimeria meleagrimitis, Eimeria phasiani, Eimeria procera, Eimeria purpureicephali, Eimeria ahsata, Eimeria alabamensis, Eimeria alijevi, Eimeria aspheronica, Eimeria arloingi, Eimeria arundeli, Eimeria bakuensis, Eimeria bovis, Eimeria cameli, Eimeria caprina, Eimeria caprovina, Eimeria christenseni, Eimeria clethrionomyis, Eimeria coecicola, Eimeria contorta, Eimeria couesii, Eimeria crandallis, Eimeria dammahensis, Eimeria dowleri, Eimeria exigua, Eimeria falciformis, Eimeria farasanii, Eimeria ferrisi, Eimeria flavescens, Eimeria gallatii, Eimeria granulosa, Eimeria hirci, Eimeria intestinalis, Eimeria irresidua, Eimeria intricata, Eimeria jolchijevi, Eimeria krijgsmanni, Eimeria larimerensis, Eimeria macusaniensis, Eimeria magna, Eimeria marconii, Eimeria media, Eimeria melanuri, Eimeria myoxi, Eimeria nagpurensis, Eimeria nieschulzi, Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae, Eimeria ovinoidalis, Eimeria pallida, Eimeria palustris, Eimeria papillata, Eimeria perforans, Eimeria phocae, Eimeria pileata, Eimeria pipistrellus, Eimeria piriformis, Eimeria prionotemni, Eimeria procyonis, Eimeria punctate, Eimeria roobroucki, Eimeria saudiensis, Eimeria sealanderi, Eimeria separata, Eimeria stiedae, Eimeria ursini, Eimeria vermiformis, Eimeria weybridgensis, Eimeria wobati, and Eimeria zuernii.

The composition according to one embodiment may have an excellent effect of prevention, alleviation and/or treatment of coccidiosis caused by at least one protozoan selected from the group consisting of Eimeria sp. protozoa described in Table 1 below, and the Eimeria sp. protozoa described in Table 1 below may cause coccidiosis of animals described in Table 1, respectively.

TABLE 1 species Host animal 1 Eimeria acervulina Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) 2 Eimeria tenella Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) 3 Eimeria maxima Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) 4 Eimeria necatrix Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) 5 Eimeria brunetti Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) 6 Eimeria hagani Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) 7 Eimeria mitis Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) 8 Eimeria praecox Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) 9 Eimeria mivati Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) 10 Eimeria aurati Goldfish (Carassius auratus) 11 Eimeria baueri Carp (crucian carp (Carassius carassius)) 12 Eimeria lepidosirenis South American lungfish (Lepidosiren paradoxa) 13 Eimeria leucisci Barbel (common barbel (Barbus barbus bocagei)) 14 Eimeria rutile European chub (Leuciscus cephalus cabeda), Iberian nase (Chondrostoma polylepis polylepis) 15 Eimeria vanasi blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) 16 Eimeria amphisbaeniarum Worm lizard (Mann's worm lizard (Amphisbaena manni)) 17 Eimeria witchery Worm lizard (Mann's worm lizard (A. manni)) 18 Eimeria yemenensae Rainbow agama (rock agama (Agama yemenensis)) 19 Eimeria adenoeides Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) 20 Eimeria colchici Pheasant (common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)) 21 Eimeria curvata Ruddy ground dove (Columbina talpacoti), scaled dove (Scardafella squammata) 22 Eimeria dispersa Turkey (M. gallopavo), quail (bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus)) 23 Eimeria duodenalis Pheasant (common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)) 24 Eimeria fraterculae Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) 25 Eimeria gallopavonis Turkey (M. gallopavo) 26 Eimeria innocua Turkey (M. gallopavo) 27 Eimeria meleagridis Turkey (M. gallopavo) 28 Eimeria meleagrimitis Turkey (M. gallopavo) 29 Eimeria phasiani Pheasant (P. colchicus) 30 Eimeria procera Grey partridges (Perdix perdix) 31 Eimeria purpureicephali Red-capped parrot (Purpureicephalus spurius) 32 Eimeria ahsata Goat (Capra hircus), sheep (Ovis aries) 33 Eimeria alabamensis Cattle (Bos taurus) 34 Eimeria alijevi Goat (C. hircus) 35 Eimeria aspheronica Goat (C. hircus) 36 Eimeria arloingi Goat (C. hircus) 37 Eimeria arundeli Common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) 38 Eimeria bakuensis Sheep (O. aries) 39 Eimeria bovis Cattle (B. taurus) 40 Eimeria cameli Camels (Camelus bactrianus, Camelus dromedarius) 41 Eimeria caprina Goat (C. hircus) 42 Eimeria caprovina Goat (C. hircus) 43 Eimeria christenseni Goat (C. hircus) 44 Eimeria clethrionomyis Red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi) 45 Eimeria coecicola Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) 46 Eimeria contorta Mouse (Mus musculus) 47 Eimeria couesii Rice rat (Oryzomys couesi) 48 Eimeria crandallis Sheep (O. aries) 49 Eimeria dammahensis Scimitar-homed oryx (Oryx dammah) 50 Eimeria dowleri Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) 51 Eimeria exigua Rabbit (O. cuniculus) 52 Eimeria falciformis Mouse (M. musculus) 53 Eimeria farasanii Mountain gazelle (Gazella gazelle farasani) 54 Eimeria ferrisi Mouse (M. musculus) 55 Eimeria flavescens Rabbit (O. cuniculus) 56 Eimeria gallatii Red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi) 57 Eimeria granulosa Goat (C. hircus) 58 Eimeria hirci Goat (C. hircus) 59 Eimeria intestinalis Rabbit (O. cuniculus) 60 Eimeria irresidua Rabbit (O. cuniculus) 61 Eimeria intricata Goat (C. hircus) 62 Eimeria jolchijevi Goat (C. hircus) 63 Eimeria krijgsmanni Mouse (M. musculus) 64 Eimeria larimerensis Uinta ground squirrel (Spermophilus armatus) 65 Eimeria macusaniensis Llamas (Lama glama), guanacos (Lama guanicoe), alpacas (Vicugna pacos), vicunas (Vicugna vicugna) 66 Eimeria magna Rabbit (O. cuniculus) 67 Eimeria marconii Red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi) 68 Eimeria media Rabbit (O. cuniculus) 69 Eimeria melanuri Garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) 70 Eimeria myoxi Garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) 71 Eimeria nagpurensis Rabbit (O. cuniculus) 72 Eimeria nieschulzi Brown rat (R. norvegicus) 73 Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae Goat (C. hircus) 74 Eimeria ovinoidalis Sheep (O. aries) 75 Eimeria pallida Goat (C. hircus) 76 Eimeria palustris Rice rat (marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris)) 77 Eimeria papillata Mouse (M. musculus) 78 Eimeria perforans Rabbit (O. cuniculus) 79 Eimeria phocae Sable Island harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) 80 Eimeria pileata Red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi) 81 Eimeria pipistrellus Kuhl's pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii) 82 Eimeria piriformis Rabbit (O. cuniculus) 83 Eimeria prionotemni Bennett's wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) 84 Eimeria procyonis Raccoon (Procyon lotor) 85 Eimeria punctate Goat (C. hircus) 86 Eimeria roobroucki Rabbit (O. cuniculus) 87 Eimeria saudiensis Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) 88 Eimeria sealanderi Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) 89 Eimeria separata Mouse (M. musculus), rat (Rattus rattus) 90 Eimeria stiedae Rabbit (O. cuniculus) 91 Eimeria ursini Southern hairy nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) 92 Eimeria vermiformis Mouse (M. musculus) 93 Eimeria weybridgensis Sheep (O. aries) 94 Eimeria wobati Southern hairy-nosed wombat (L. latifrons) 95 Eimeria zuernii Cattle (Bos taurus)

The composition according to one embodiment may have an excellent effect for prevention, alleviation and/or treatment of coccidiosis caused by Eimeria tenella, Eimeria acervulina, and/or Eimeria maxima.

In one embodiment, the prevention or alleviation of coccidiosis may mean at least one (for example, any one, 2 or more kinds, 3 or more kinds, or all) selected from the group consisting of the following (1) to (4), and for example, at least one selected from the group consisting of the following (1) to (4) may be reduce, inhibited and/or increased compared to a control group (negative control group and/or positive control group):

-   -   (1) reduction of at least one selected from the group consisting         of lesion score (for example, appendix lesion score), fecal         oocyst excretion amount and mortality;     -   (2) inhibition of weight loss due to coccidiosis;     -   (3) increase of an anticoccidial index (ACI); and     -   (4) reduction of cell invasion of an Eimeria sp. protozoan,         propagation of the protozoan in cells, or both.

In one embodiment, the lesion scoring method which determines the lesion score may be performed by referring to Johnson J K & Reid W M (1970) document (Joyce Johnson, W. Malcolm Reid, Anticoccidial drugs: Lesion scoring techniques in battery and floor-pen experiments with chickens, Experimental parasitology, 1970), and the lesion score may be 0 to 4 degrees. In one embodiment, the lesion score may mean a lesion score measured in appendix, duodenum and/or jejunum, and it may be calculated by a sum of each of lesion scores measured in each organ (appendix, duodenum and/or jejunum).

In one embodiment, the fecal oocyst extraction amount may be measured using a microscope or using a counting chamber (for example, McMaster chamber) and the like by collecting feces excreted from a subject.

In one embodiment, the mortality may mean mortality of an animal subject in which coccidiosis is induced, and by performing a post mortem, the number of subjects died from causes other than coccidiosis may be excluded.

In one embodiment, the subject in which coccidiosis is induced may have a reduced body weight than a subject in which coccidiosis is not induced, and the composition according to one embodiment may inhibit weight loss by induction of coccidiosis.

In one embodiment, the anticoccidial index may be calculated by Equation 1 below, and in Equation 1, the lesion score may be calculated as aforementioned.

Anticoccidial index(XACI)=(survival rate after challenge inoculation (%))+(daily weight gain compared to negative control group (%))−(lesion score×10)−(fecal oocyst excretion amount index)  (Equation 1)

The challenge inoculation may mean administration (for example, oral inoculation, etc.) of a protozoan capable of inducing coccidiosis. In one embodiment, the survival rate may be a survival rate measured at Day 5 to 10, Day 7 to 10, Day 8 to 10, Day 7 to 9, Day 7 to 8, or Day 7 after challenge inoculation, and by performing a post mortem, the survival rate may be measured by excluding the number of subjects died from causes other than coccidiosis.

The weight gain compared to the negative control group in Equation 1 above may be a value calculated by a percentage calculated on the basis of a value of the negative control group (for example, negative control group in which a protozoan is non-infected).

The lesion score in Equation 1 above is as described above.

In Equation 1 above, the fecal oocyst excretion amount index may be a numerical value of 0 when the calculated result value is at a level of 0% or more to less than 1%, 5 when the calculated result value is at a level of 1% or more to less than 26%, 10 when the calculated result value is at a level of 26% or more to less than 51%, 20 when the calculated result value is at a level of 51% or more to less than 76% and 40 when the calculated result value is at a level of 76% or more to 100% or less, by calculating a percentage based on a value of a negative control group (for example, negative control group in which a protozoan is infected).

In one embodiment, the active ingredient (a compound of Chemical formula 1, or a salt thereof) may be comprised in the feed composition by 1 w/w % or less, less than 1 w/w %, 10⁻¹ w/w % or less, 5×10⁻² w/w % or less, 2.5×10⁻² w/w % or less, 2×10⁻² w/w % or less, 1.25×10⁻² w/w % or less, 10⁻² w/w % or less, 9×10⁻³ w/w % or less, 8×10⁻³ w/w % or less, 7×10⁻³ w/w % or less, 6×10⁻³ w/w % or less, 5×10⁻³ w/w % or less, 4×10⁻³ w/w % or less, 10⁻⁷ w/w % or more, 10⁻⁶ w/w % or more, 10⁻⁵ w/w % or more, 10⁻⁴ w/w % or more, 5×10⁻⁴ w/w % or more, 10⁻³ w/w % or more, 1.5×10⁻³ w/w % or more, 2×10⁻³ w/w % or more, 3×10⁻³ w/w % or more, 4×10⁻³ w/w % or more, 5×10⁻³ w/w % or more, 10⁻⁷ to 1 w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻¹ w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 5×10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 5×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 4×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 5×10⁻⁴ w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻⁴ w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻⁵ w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 1 w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻¹ w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 5×10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 5×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 4×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 5×10⁻⁴ w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁴ w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁵ w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 1 w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻¹ w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 5×10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 5×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 4×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 5×10⁻⁴ w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻⁴ w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 1 w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻¹ w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 5×10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 5×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 4×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 5×10⁻⁴ w/w %, 10⁻³ to 1 w/w %, 10⁻³ to 10⁻¹ w/w %, 10⁻³ to 5×10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻³ to 10 w/w %, 10⁻³ to 5×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻³ to 4×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻³ to 2×10⁻³ w/w %, or 10⁻³ to 1.5×10⁻³ w/w %. In one embodiment, the feed composition may be a feed (for example, assorted feed and/or ingredient feed finally ingested by an animal) comprising the active ingredient in the range based on the total weight.

In one embodiment, the active ingredient (a compound of Chemical formula 1, or a salt thereof) may be comprised in the feed composition at a concentration of 10000 ppm or less, 5000 ppm or less, 2000 ppm or less, 1000 ppm or less, 500 ppm or less, 400 ppm or less, 300 ppm or less, 250 ppm or less, 200 ppm or less, 125 ppm or less, less than 125 ppm, 100 ppm or less, 90 ppm or less 80 ppm or less, 70 ppm or less, 65 ppm or less, 60 ppm or less, 50 ppm or less, 40 ppm or less, 0.001 ppm or more, 0.01 ppm or more, 0.1 ppm or more, 1 ppm or more, 5 ppm or more, 10 ppm or more, 15 ppm or more, 20 ppm or more, 30 ppm or more, 40 ppm or more, 50 ppm or more, 0.001 to 1000 ppm, 0.001 to 500 ppm, 0.001 to 300 ppm, 0.001 to 200 ppm, 0.001 to 125 ppm, 0.001 to 100 ppm, 0.001 to 90 ppm, 0.001 to 80 ppm, 0.001 to 70 ppm, 0.001 to 60 ppm, 0.001 to 50 ppm, 0.001 to 40 ppm, 0.001 to 30 ppm, 0.003 to 1000 ppm, 0.003 to 500 ppm, 0.003 to 300 ppm, 0.003 to 200 ppm, 0.003 to 125 ppm, 0.003 to 100 ppm, 0.003 to 90 ppm, 0.003 to 80 ppm, 0.003 to 70 ppm, 0.003 to 60 ppm, 0.003 to 50 ppm, 0.003 to 40 ppm, 0.003 to 30 ppm, 0.01 to 1000 ppm, 0.01 to 500 ppm, 0.01 to 300 ppm, 0.01 to 200 ppm, 0.01 to 125 ppm, 0.01 to 100 ppm, 0.01 to 90 ppm, 0.01 to 80 ppm, 0.01 to 70 ppm, 0.01 to 60 ppm, 0.01 to 50 ppm, 0.01 to 40 ppm, 0.01 to 30 ppm, 0.1 to 1000 ppm, 0.1 to 500 ppm, 0.1 to 300 ppm, 0.1 to 200 ppm, 0.1 to 125 ppm, 0.1 to 100 ppm, 0.1 to 90 ppm, 0.1 to 80 ppm, 0.1 to 70 ppm, 0.1 to 60 ppm, 0.1 to 50 ppm, 0.1 to 40 ppm, 0.1 to 30 ppm, 1 to 1000 ppm, 1 to 500 ppm, 1 to 300 ppm, 1 to 200 ppm, 1 to 125 ppm, 1 to 100 ppm, 1 to 90 ppm, 1 to 80 ppm, 1 to 70 ppm, 1 to 60 ppm, 1 to 50 ppm, 1 to 40 ppm, 1 to 30 ppm, 3 to 1000 ppm, 3 to 500 ppm, 3 to 300 ppm, 3 to 200 ppm, 3 to 125 ppm, 3 to 100 ppm, 3 to 90 ppm, 3 to 80 ppm, 3 to 70 ppm, 3 to 60 ppm, 3 to 50 ppm, 3 to 40 ppm, 3 to 30 ppm, 5 to 1000 ppm, 5 to 500 ppm, 5 to 300 ppm, 5 to 200 ppm, 5 to 125 ppm, 5 to 100 ppm, 5 to 90 ppm, 5 to 80 ppm, 5 to 70 ppm, 5 to 60 ppm, 5 to 50 ppm, 5 to 40 ppm, 5 to 30 ppm, 10 to 1000 ppm, 10 to 500 ppm, 10 to 300 ppm, 10 to 200 ppm, 10 to 125 ppm, 10 to 100 ppm, 10 to 90 ppm, 10 to 80 ppm, 10 to 70 ppm, 10 to 60 ppm, 10 to 50 ppm, 10 to 40 ppm or 10 to 30 ppm.

In one embodiment, when the active ingredient (a compound of Chemical formula 1, or a salt thereof) is comprised within the above range, compared to a case of comprising the active ingredient outside the above range, the anticoccidial activity may be excellent.

In the present application, “feed” may mean any natural or artificial diet, one-meal meal or the like for an animal to eat, ingest and digest or suitable therefor or a component of the one-meal meal. In the feed composition according to one embodiment, a concentrated feed and/or a special feed may be further comprised. The concentrated feed is a by-product obtained by purifying seed fruits and grains including grains such as wheat, oats, corn and the like, and may be bran including rice bran, wheat bran, barley bran and the like, sesame cake which is a by-product obtained by drilling soybeans, fluid, sesame seeds, flax seeds, coco palms, and the like for oil, and residues such as residual starch, which is a main component of starch residue that is the remainder after removing starch from sweet potatoes and potatoes, fish soluble obtained by concentrating fresh liquid (

) obtained from fish meal, fish waste and fish, animal feed such as dried whey in which whey that is the remainder when casein is produced from meat meal (

), blood meal, feather meal, skim milk powder, milk to cheese, skim milk, and the like, yeast, chlorella and/or seaweed, and the like.

The feed composition according to one embodiment may mean a feed in a form which is finally ingested by an animal, a dietary supplement capable of being mixed to feed, and/or a feed additive. The dietary supplement is for example, a composition containing a preparation which provides a therapeutic agent or a digestive agent to an animal, and may mean a composition which is not a common source of calorie intake of a living body, that is, an energy source, but is ingested in addition to a normal animal feed. The feed additive refers to a substance added to feed for a purpose of various effects such as nutrient supplementation and weight loss prevention, improvement of digestibility of fiber in feed, oil quality alleviation, reproductive disorder prevention and fertility rate enhancement, prevention of high temperature stress in summer and the like. In one embodiment, it may mean a substance which is added for a purpose of prevention, alleviation or treatment of coccidiosis.

In one embodiment, the feed composition may be a feed additive, and when the feed additive according to one embodiment is mixed to feed (for example, mixed feed and/or ingredient feed finally ingested to an animal), it may be added in a weight of 0.001% (w/w) or more, 0.005% (w/w) or more, 0.01% (w/w) or more, 0.05% (w/w) or more, 0.1% (w/w) or more, 0.5% (w/w) or more, 1% (w/w) or less, 0.5% (w/w) or less, 0.1% (w/w) or less, 0.05% (w/w) or less, 0.01% (w/w) or less, 0.005% (w/w) or less, 0.001 to 1% (w/w), 0.001 to 0.5% (w/w), 0.001 to 0.1% (w/w), 0.001 to 0.05% (w/w), 0.001 to 0.01% (w/w), 0.001 to 0.005% (w/w), 0.005 to 1% (w/w), 0.005 to 0.5% (w/w), 0.005 to 0.1% (w/w), 0.005 to 0.05% (w/w), 0.005 to 0.01% (w/w), 0.01 to 1% (w/w), 0.01 to 0.5% (w/w), 0.01 to 0.1% (w/w), 0.01 to 0.05% (w/w), 0.05 to 1% (w/w), 0.05 to 0.5% (w/w), 0.05 to 0.1% (w/w), 0.1 to 1% (w/w), 0.1 to 0.5% (w/w), or 0.5 to 1% (w/w) based on the total feed weight, and it may be mixed with feed raw materials, supplementary feed, adjuvants and/or other kinds of additives and the like other than the active ingredient according to one embodiment.

In one embodiment, when the feed additive is comprised within the above range, compared to a case of comprising the feed additive outside the above range, the anticoccidial activity may be excellent.

One aspect may provide a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating coccidiosis, comprising a compound of Chemical formula 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient. The compound of Chemical formula 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is as described above.

The pharmaceutical composition according to one embodiment may be used as a single formulation, and may be used by preparing a mixed formulation by further comprising an authorized pharmaceutical composition known to have an effect of preventing or treating coccidiosis. It may be formulated into a pharmaceutical unit administration form by adding a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent.

In the present application, “pharmaceutically acceptable” means that it does not significantly stimulate an organism and does not inhibit the biological activity and properties of an administration active substance. The pharmaceutical composition comprising the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier according to one embodiment may have any one formulation selected from the group consisting of a tablet, pill, powder, a granule, a capsule, suspension, internal solution, emulsion, syrup, sterilized aqueous solution, non-aqueous solution, suspension, emulsion, a freeze-dried formulation and a suppository.

The pharmaceutical composition may be various oral or parenteral formulations. In case of formulation, it may be prepared using a commonly used filler, extender, binder, wetting agent, disintegrant, diluent such as a surfactant, or excipient.

Solid preparations for oral administration include tablets, pills, powder, granules, capsules and the like, and these solid preparations may be prepared by mixing at least one excipient, for example, starch, calcium carbonate, sucrose or lactose, gelatin and the like to one or more compounds. In addition, other than simple excipients, lubricants such as magnesium stearate, talc and the like may be used. Liquid preparations for oral administration include suspension, internal solution, emulsion, syrup and the like, and various excipients, for example, wetting agents, sweeteners, fragrances, preservatives and the like other than water and liquid paraffin which are commonly used simple diluents may be comprised.

Preparations for parenteral administration may include sterilized aqueous solution, non-aqueous solution, suspension, emulsion, a freeze-dried formulation and a suppository. As the non-aqueous solution and suspension, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, vegetable oil such as olive oil, injectable ester such as ethyl oleate, and the like may be used. As a base of the suppository, witepsol macrogol, tween 61, cacao butter, laurin butter, glycerogelatin and the like may be used.

In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition may be used by formulation into various forms such as oral formulations such as powder, granules, tablets, capsules, suspension, emulsion, syrup, aerosols, and the like, injectable formulations of sterilized injection solutions, and the like according to a common method for each purpose of use, and it may be orally administered or administered through various routes including intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, intra-rectal, topical administration and the like.

In one embodiment, a carrier, excipient or diluent or the like may be further comprised in the pharmaceutical composition additionally, and the example of the suitable carrier, excipient or diluent which may be comprised may include lactose, dextrose, sucrose, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, erythritol, maltitol, starch, acacia gum, alginate, gelatin, calcium phosphate, calcium silicate, cellulose, methyl cellulose, amorphous cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, water, methylhydroxybenzoate, propylhydroxybenzoate, talc, magnesium stearate and mineral oil and the like. In addition, the pharmaceutical composition may further comprise a filler, anticoagulant, lubricant, wetting agent, flavoring, emulsifier, preservative or the like additionally.

In one embodiment, the effective amount of the active ingredient (a compound of Chemical formula 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof) in the pharmaceutical composition may differ depending on the patient (subject)'s age, gender and body weight, and in general, 0.0001 to 100 mg/kg, 0.0001 to 50 mg/kg, 0.0001 to 30 mg/kg, 0.0001 to 20 mg/kg, 0.0001 to 10 mg/kg, 0.0001 to 1 mg/kg, 0.0001 to 0.1 mg/kg, 0.0001 to 0.01 mg/kg, 0.0001 to 0.001 mg/kg, 0.001 to 100 mg/kg, 0.001 to 50 mg/kg, 0.001 to 30 mg/kg, 0.001 to 20 mg/kg, 0.001 to 10 mg/kg, 0.001 to 1 mg/kg, 0.001 to 0.1 mg/kg, 0.001 to 0.01 mg/kg, 0.01 to 100 mg/kg, 0.01 to 50 mg/kg, 0.01 to 30 mg/kg, 0.01 to 20 mg/kg, 0.01 to 10 mg/kg, 0.01 to 1 mg/kg, 0.01 to 0.1 mg/kg, 0.1 to 100 mg/kg, 0.1 to 50 mg/kg, 0.1 to 30 mg/kg, 0.1 to 20 mg/kg, 0.1 to 10 mg/kg, 0.1 to 1 mg/kg, 1 to 100 mg/kg, 1 to 50 mg/kg, 1 to 30 mg/kg, 1 to 20 mg/kg, 1 to 10 mg/kg, 10 to 100 mg/kg, 10 to 50 mg/kg, 10 to 30 mg/kg, 10 to 20 mg/kg, 20 to 100 mg/kg, 20 to 50 mg/kg, 20 to 30 mg/kg, 30 to 100 mg/kg, 30 to 50 mg/kg or 50 to 100 mg/kg per body weight kg may be administered daily or on alternate days or be administered by dividing into 1 to 3 times per day. However, since it may be increased or decreased according to the administration route, severity of disease, gender, body weight, age and the like, the dosage does not limit the scope of the present application in any way. In one embodiment, when the composition is administered intraperitoneally, it may be administered at a concentration of 0.001 to 30 mg/kg.

In one embodiment, the dosage of the pharmaceutical composition may be in various ranges depending on the patient's body weight, age, gender, health status, diet, administration time, administration method, excretion rate and severity of disease and the like.

In one embodiment, the compound of Chemical formula 1, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof may be comprised in the pharmaceutical composition by 1 w/w % or less, less than 1 w/w %, 10⁻¹ w/w % or less, 5×10⁻² w/w % or less, 2.5×10⁻² w/w % or less, 2×10⁻² w/w % or less, 1.25×10⁻² w/w % or less, 10⁻² w/w % or less, 9×10⁻³ w/w % or less, 8×10⁻³ w/w % or less, 7×10⁻³ w/w % or less, 6×10⁻³ w/w % or less, 5×10⁻³ w/w % or less, 4×10⁻³ w/w % or less, 10⁻⁷ w/w % or more, 10⁻⁶ w/w % or more, 10⁻⁵ w/w % or more, 10⁻⁴ w/w % or more, 5×10⁻⁴ w/w % or more, 10⁻³ w/w % or more, 1.5×10⁻³ w/w % or more, 2×10⁻³ w/w % or more, 3×10⁻³ w/w % or more, 4×10⁻³ w/w % or more, 5×10⁻³ w/w % or more, 10⁻⁷ to 1 w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻¹ w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 5×10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 5×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 4×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 5×10⁻⁴ w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻⁴ w/w %, 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻⁵ w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 1 w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻¹ w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 5×10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 5×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 4×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 5×10⁻⁴ w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁴ w/w %, 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻⁵ w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 1 w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻¹ w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 5×10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 5×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 4×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 5×10⁻⁴ w/w %, 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻⁴ w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 1 w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻¹ w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 5×10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 5×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 4×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻⁴ to 5×10⁻⁴ w/w %, 10⁻³ to 1 w/w %, 10⁻³ to 10⁻¹ w/w %, 10⁻³ to 5×10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻³ to 10⁻² w/w %, 10⁻³ to 5×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻³ to 4×10⁻³ w/w %, 10⁻³ to 2×10⁻³ w/w %, or 10⁻³ to 1.5×10⁻³ w/w.

In one embodiment, the compound of Chemical formula 1, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof may be comprised in the pharmaceutical composition at a concentration of 10000 ppm or less, 5000 ppm or less, 2000 ppm or less, 1000 ppm or less, 500 ppm or less, 400 ppm or less, 300 ppm or less, 250 ppm or less, 200 ppm or less, 125 ppm or less, less than 125 ppm, 100 ppm or less, 90 ppm or less 80 ppm or less, 70 ppm or less, 65 ppm or less, 60 ppm or less, 50 ppm or less, 40 ppm or less, 0.001 ppm or more, 0.01 ppm or more, 0.1 ppm or more, 1 ppm or more, 5 ppm or more, 10 ppm or more, 15 ppm or more, 20 ppm or more, 30 ppm or more, 40 ppm or more, 50 ppm or more, 0.001 to 1000 ppm, 0.001 to 500 ppm, 0.001 to 300 ppm, 0.001 to 200 ppm, 0.001 to 125 ppm, 0.001 to 100 ppm, 0.001 to 90 ppm, 0.001 to 80 ppm, 0.001 to 70 ppm, 0.001 to 60 ppm, 0.001 to 50 ppm, 0.001 to 40 ppm, 0.001 to 30 ppm, 0.003 to 1000 ppm, 0.003 to 500 ppm, 0.003 to 300 ppm, 0.003 to 200 ppm, 0.003 to 125 ppm, 0.003 to 100 ppm, 0.003 to 90 ppm, 0.003 to 80 ppm, 0.003 to 70 ppm, 0.003 to 60 ppm, 0.003 to 50 ppm, 0.003 to 40 ppm, 0.003 to 30 ppm, 0.01 to 1000 ppm, 0.01 to 500 ppm, 0.01 to 300 ppm, 0.01 to 200 ppm, 0.01 to 125 ppm, 0.01 to 100 ppm, 0.01 to 90 ppm, 0.01 to 80 ppm, 0.01 to 70 ppm, 0.01 to 60 ppm, 0.01 to 50 ppm, 0.01 to 40 ppm, 0.01 to 30 ppm, 0.1 to 1000 ppm, 0.1 to 500 ppm, 0.1 to 300 ppm, 0.1 to 200 ppm, 0.1 to 125 ppm, 0.1 to 100 ppm, 0.1 to 90 ppm, 0.1 to 80 ppm, 0.1 to 70 ppm, 0.1 to 60 ppm, 0.1 to 50 ppm, 0.1 to 40 ppm, 0.1 to 30 ppm, 1 to 1000 ppm, 1 to 500 ppm, 1 to 300 ppm, 1 to 200 ppm, 1 to 125 ppm, 1 to 100 ppm, 1 to 90 ppm, 1 to 80 ppm, 1 to 70 ppm, 1 to 60 ppm, 1 to 50 ppm, 1 to 40 ppm, 1 to 30 ppm, 3 to 1000 ppm, 3 to 500 ppm, 3 to 300 ppm, 3 to 200 ppm, 3 to 125 ppm, 3 to 100 ppm, 3 to 90 ppm, 3 to 80 ppm, 3 to 70 ppm, 3 to 60 ppm, 3 to 50 ppm, 3 to 40 ppm, 3 to 30 ppm, 5 to 1000 ppm, 5 to 500 ppm, 5 to 300 ppm, 5 to 200 ppm, 5 to 125 ppm, 5 to 100 ppm, 5 to 90 ppm, 5 to 80 ppm, 5 to 70 ppm, 5 to 60 ppm, 5 to 50 ppm, 5 to 40 ppm, 5 to 30 ppm, 10 to 1000 ppm, 10 to 500 ppm, 10 to 300 ppm, 10 to 200 ppm, 10 to 125 ppm, 10 to 100 ppm, 10 to 90 ppm, 10 to 80 ppm, 10 to 70 ppm, 10 to 60 ppm, 10 to 50 ppm, 10 to 40 ppm or 10 to 30 ppm.

In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition may be administered to a subject through various routes. The administration may mean providing a certain substance into a subject (patient) by any appropriate method, and the administration route of the pharmaceutical composition may be oral administration and/or parenteral administration through all common routes as long as to reach a target tissue. In case of parenteral administration, external application for skin, intraperitoneal injection, intra-rectal injection, subcutaneous injection, intravenous injection, intramuscular injection and/or intrathoracic injection may be selected. In addition, the composition according to one embodiment may be administered using any device capable of delivering the active ingredient into a target cell.

One aspect may provide an antiprotozoal composition against an Eimeria sp. protozoan, comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of the compound of Chemical formula 1, and salt thereof. The compound of Chemical formula 1, salt thereof and/or Eimeria sp. protozoan is as described above.

In one embodiment, that the antiprotozoal activity (effect, efficacy) against an Eimeria sp. protozoan is excellent may mean the following characteristics of (1) and/or (2), and for example, it may exhibit the following characteristics of (1) and/or (2) compared to a control group (negative control group and/or positive control group):

-   -   (1) Excellent effect of killing an Eimeria sp. protozoan; and/or     -   (2) inhibition of a cell invasion effect of an Eimeria sp.         protozoan and/or a propagation effect of the protozoan in cells.

In one embodiment, the compound of Chemical formula 1, or salt thereof may be comprised in the antiprotozoal composition in the aforementioned concentration range in the feed composition and/or pharmaceutical composition. In one embodiment, the composition comprising the active ingredient within the aforementioned concentration range may have the excellent antiprotozoal activity compared to a case of comprising it in a range other than the concentration range.

Other aspect may provide a method for preventing, alleviating or treating coccidiosis, comprising a step of administering the composition (for example, the feed composition, the feed additive, the pharmaceutical composition and/or the antiprotozoal composition) to an animal. In one embodiment, before the administering the composition, confirming (selecting) a subject (patient) in need of preventing, alleviating or treating of coccidiosis may be further comprised. The composition and coccidiosis are as described above. According to one embodiment, the confirming a subject may comprise detecting an oocyst of a protozoan capable of inducing coccidium from feces separated from a subject.

In the method for preventing, alleviating or treating coccidiosis according to one embodiment, the administration method, administration route and/or dosage of the composition are as described above.

According to one embodiment, the composition may be administered in a pharmaceutically effective dose. In the present application, ‘pharmaceutically effective dose’ means an amount sufficient for treating disease at a reasonable benefit/danger ratio applicable to medical treatment, and the effective dose level may be determined according to the patient's disease type, severity, drug activity, sensitivity to a drug, administration time, administration route and excretion ratio, treatment period, an element comprising a drug used simultaneously and other elements well known in the medical field. According to one embodiment, the composition may be administered as an individual therapeutic agent or be administered in combination with other anticoccidial agents, and may be administered simultaneously, separately or sequentially with a conventional therapeutic agent, and may be administered single or multiple. Taking all of the elements into consideration, it is important to administer an amount that can obtain the maximum effect with a minimum amount without side effects, and this may be easily determined by those skilled in the art.

In one embodiment, the subject to which the method for preventing, alleviating or treating coccidiosis is applied means an animal in which coccidiosis is developed or may be developed, and the animal may be mammals including humans, horses, cattle, mice, rats, dogs, cats and the like, birds including poultry (for example, breeders, broilers and/or laying hens, etc.) and the like, fish, amphibians, and/or reptiles, and the like.

In one embodiment, the animal to which the method for preventing, alleviating or treating coccidiosis is applied may be at least one selected from the group consisting of the animals described in Table 1 above, and for example, it may be at least one selected from the group consisting of humans, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, quails, pheasants, pigeons, parrots, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, horses, antelopes, oryxes, monkeys, cats, dogs, mice, rats, rabbits, racoons, squirrels, bats, guinea pigs, camels, llamas, alpaca, wombats, lizards, goldfish, crucian carp, tilapias, barbells, lungfish and European chubs. In one embodiment, the animal may be an animal except for human.

Other aspect provides a use of a compound of Chemical formula 1 below or a salt thereof for the manufacture of a composition (for example, feed composition, pharmaceutical composition) for preventing, alleviating and/or treating coccidiosis or an antiprotozoal composition; a use of a compound of Chemical formula 1 or a salt thereof for using in preventing, alleviating and/or treating coccidiosis; and/or a use of a compound of Chemical formula 1 or a salt thereof for using in antiprotozoan (for example, Eimeria sp. protozoal killing; and/or cell invasion and/or propagation inhibition of the Eimeria sp. protozoan) against an Eimeria sp. protozoan. In the above use, the compound of Chemical formula 1, or salt thereof, coccidiosis, antiprotozoal and Eimeria sp. protozoa are as described above.

Advantageous Effects

The composition comprising the compound according to one embodiment or a salt thereof has excellent direct killing effect against protozoa capable of inducing coccidiosis, cell invasion inhibition effect of the protozoa and/or propagation inhibitory effect of the protozoa in cells, and has excellent effect for preventing, alleviating and treating coccidiosis in vivo.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically by the following examples. However, they are intended to illustrate the present invention only, but the scope of the present invention is not limited by these examples.

The present application will be described in more detail by the following examples, but it is not intended to limit the scope by the following examples.

Example 1. In Vivo Anticoccidial Activity of Stilbene Compound Example 1-1. Experimental Facility and Research Design

An in vivo anticoccidial efficacy evaluation test was performed in an animal experiment facility in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. One-day-old female Ross broilers were individually weighed and randomly divided into groups to use in an experiment. Matters and conditions for experimental design were described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Category Experiment variable Breeding type Cage Broiler stocking age 1-day-old Total experiment period 29 days Gender Male Number of broilers per cage 6 Number of repetitions per treatment group 3 repetitions Number of treatment groups 5 Total number of broilers 90 broilers Kind of challenge inoculation protozoa Eimeria tenella Number of challenge inoculation oocysts 10,000 oocysts oral inoculation/broiler

A breeding farm was managed according to the Korean poultry breeding management guidelines. Cages and the breeding farm were cleaned and disinfected before starting the test. The temperature of 40 to 41° C. and the humidity of 40 to 50% of the breeding farm were maintained, and it was continuously monitored. General feed was fed according to the nutritional requirements of broilers, and the mixing ratio was described in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Content Raw material (%) Corn 69.01 Soybean meal 23.99 Soybean oil 2.75 Dicalcium phosphate 2 Calcium carbonate 1.4 Salt 0.35 Poultry Vit Mix 0.2 Poultry Mineral Mix 0.15 DL-Methionine 0.1 Choline-chloride, 60% 0.05 Total 100 Calculated values (DM basis, %) CP, % 16 Ca, % 1.19 Avail. P, % 0.54 Lys, % 1 Met, % 0.42 Cys + Met, % 0.65 TMEn, kcal/kg 3585

Example 1-2. Experimental Design

To the general feed (Table 3), each material (salinomycin (CAS No. 53003-10-4), resveratrol (sigma) or pterostilbene (sigma) was added at a concentration described in Table 4 below, respectively, and was self-mixed.

Antibiotics and supplements were not used in general feed and mixed feed, and no anticoccidial agent other than each material was added. Broilers were fed ad libitum throughout the experiment period. After putting 6 1-day-age broilers in cages randomly placed for each of the control group or test group and breeding, general feed was fed for 14 days, and then the mixed feed prepared above was ingested by dividing by control group or test group.

Coccidiosis induction was performed by oral inoculation (challenge inoculation) in an oral tube type of 10,000 oocysts (eggs) with over 90% mature (sporulation) Eimeria tenella per one individual to 21-day-old broilers.

TABLE 4 Group Treatment Non-infected negative General feed control group Infected negative control group Eimeria tenella infection + general feed Positive control group Eimeria tenella infection + formulated feed comprising salinomycin 60 ppm Resveratrol treated group Eimeria tenella infection + formulated feed comprising resveratrol 125 ppm Pterostilbene treated group Eimeria tenella infection + formulated feed comprising pterostilbene 125 ppm

Example 1-3. Measurement of Anticoccidial Activity of Stilbene

The anticoccidial efficacy by test group designed in Example 1-2 above was shown as an anticoccidial index (ACI), and the anticoccidial index was calculated by Equation 2 below. The ACI score is out of 200 points, and the higher the ACI score, the more excellent the anticoccidial ability, and when it is 120 points or more to less than 140 points, it is determined that it is effective as an anticoccidial material, and when it is 140 points or more to less than 160 points, it is determined that it is excellent as an anticoccidial material, and when it is 160 points or more, it is determined that the anticoccidial effect is very excellent (Luis Miguel De Pablos et al., Anticoccidial activity of maslinic acid against infection with Eimeria tenella in chickens, Parasitol Res, 2010).

Anticoccidial index(ACI)=(survival rate after challenge inoculation (%))+(daily weight gain compared to negative control group(RWG, %))−(lesion score×10)−(fecal oocyst excretion amount index)  (Equation 2)

1) Survival rate: the number of dead individuals was recorded daily, and post mortem autopsy was performed to determine a cause of mortality, and the number of individuals who died due to causes other than coccidiosis was excluded. The survival rate (%) up to the 8th day after challenge inoculation was used for anticoccidial index calculation. The measured survival rate was described in Table 5 below.

2) Daily weight gain: body weight was measured for each cage before challenge inoculation with a protozoan into an individual and at the 7th day after challenge inoculation, and the difference was divided by the number of days to calculate the daily weight gain (ADG, g/d). ‘Daily weight gain compared to the negative control group (RWG, %)’ which was calculated by dividing the daily weight gain (ADG, average daily gain; g/d) of each experimental group by the weight gain (ADG, g/d) of the non-infected negative control group and multiplying by 100 was used for anticoccidial index calculation. The daily weight gain (ADG, g/d) measured in each control group and test group and the daily weight gain compared to the negative control group (RWG, %) were shown in Table 5 below.

3) Lesion scoring: On the 8th day after challenge inoculation, an autopsy was conducted for 6 broilers per cage, and the intestines were incised and opened. Scoring was performed for each coccidial lesion in the appendix region of the broilers. The lesion scoring method was performed by referring to Johnson J K & Reid W M (1970) document (Joyce Johnson, W. Malcolm Reid, Anticoccidial drugs: Lesion scoring techniques in battery and floor-pen experiments with chickens, Experimental parasitology, 1970). The lesion score is on a scale of 0-4, and 0 point corresponds to normal appendix, and 1 point is a mild infection symptom, and 2 points is a moderate infection symptom, and 3 points is a severe infection symptom and 4 points is a case of showing a very severe infection symptom or causing death. A lesion index was calculated by multiplying the measured appendix lesion score by 10, and this was used for anticoccidial index calculation. The measured lesion score and lesion index in each control group and test group were described in Table 5 below.

4) Fecal oocyst excretion amount: the entire feces on the 6-8th day of challenge inoculation were collected by cage, mixed evenly, and then randomly sampled 3 times in total by 1 g each. After floating the oocysts in 1 g feces using salt water, the oocyst excretion amount was measured using McMaster chamber, and the result was described in Table 5 below. The result data were statistically treated using SAS Mixed Model (PROC MIXED), and data having a significant difference of p<0.05 were indicated by superscripts. The oocyst excretion amount (%) compared to the infected negative control group was calculated by dividing the oocyst excretion amount by each group into the oocyst excretion amount of the infected negative control group and multiplying by 100. The oocyst excretion amount index was calculated as 0 when the calculated oocyst excretion amount compared to the infected negative control group was at a level of 0% to less than 1%, 5 when it was 1% or more to less than 26%, 10 when it was 26% or more to less than 51%, 20 when it was 51% or more to less than 76%, and 40 when it was 76% or more to 100% or less, and the result was described in Table 5 below, and this was used for anticoccidial index calculation.

TABLE 5 Group Control group Test group Compound Non-infected Infected negative negative control group control group Salinomycin Resveratrol Pterostilbene Survival rate 100 100 100 100 100 after challenge inoculation (%) BWG after 439^(a) 298^(e) 360^(cd) 381^(bcd) 389^(bc) challenge inoculation (g/d) Daily weight 100  67  82  87  89 gain compared to negative control group (RWG, %) Lesion score  0^(d)  3.4^(a)  2.3^(c)  2.95 2.8^(b) Lesion index  0  34  23  29  28 Oocyst excretion  0^(c) 1.3.E+08^(a) 6.3.E+07^(b) 5.2.E+07^(b) 6.3.E+07^(b) amount/g Oocyst index  0  40  10  10  10 ACI 200  93 149 149 151

As aforementioned, the anticoccidial index by each test group measured by Equation 2 above was shown in Table 5 above.

As shown in Table 5, in the Eimeria tenella-infected negative control group, the weight gain compared to the non-infected negative control group was reduced and the lesion score and oocyst excretion amount were increased. In the salinomycin treatment group used as a positive control group, compared to the infected negative control group, an effect of increasing the weight gain (p<0.05) and reducing the lesion score and oocyst excretion amount was shown (p<0.05). The resveratrol or pterostilbene treatment group showed an efficacy equivalent or superior to the salinomycin treatment group, and therefore, it showed a significant improvement in weight gain and a significant decrease in lesion index and oocyst excretion amount. As the result of calculating and comparing the anticoccidial index, resveratrol (149 points) and pterostilbene (151 points) showed an anticoccidial efficacy equivalent or superior to an anticoccidial agent, salinomycin (149 points).

Example 2. Direct Killing Effect Against Eimeria sp. Protozoan of Stilbene Compound

In the present example, protozoan (sporozoite) direct killing ability evaluation was conducted against 1 representative Eimeria kind known to be infected in most farms (E. tenella).

A certain amount of oocysts of each coccidial protozoan was put in a tube containing glass beads and pulverized, and then to remove the crushed oocyst cell wall and other debris, internal sporocysts were purified using the percoll density gradient, and washed with PBS solution. A reagent comprising sodium taurocholic acid (Sigma aldrich, USA) and trypsin (Gibco, USA), respectively, was treated to sporocysts of Eimeria tenella for excystation of the internal sporozoites, and they were incubated, and then they were washed with PBS solution once and the protozoa were obtained.

After reacting the pterostilbene, pinostilbene and anticoccidial agents, diclazuril and gallic acid (hereinafter, material) with the protozoan of Eimeria tenella at various concentrations of 16 to 500 ppm, respectively, only alive protozoa (sporozoites) were counted through microscopic observation. Then, the direct death rate (%) of the protozoan by material concentration was shown in Table 6 below.

TABLE 6 Protozoal death rate by material Treatment treatment concentration (%) group 500 250 125 62 32 16 Pterostilbene 100 100 100 74.2 63.4 33.3 Pinostilbene 61.3 50.5 0 0 0 0 Diclazuril 44 35 0 0 0 0 Gallic acid 32 26 0 0 0 0

As shown in Table 6 above, in the gallic acid and diclazuril treatment groups, the death rate of 50% or more against the protozoan (sporozoite) capable of inducing coccidium was not shown at 500 ppm or less. The pterostilbene treatment group showed the death rate of 50% or more against an Eimeria tenella protozoan at 32 ppm or more, and thereby, it could be confirmed that the protozoal killing effect was significantly excellent. In addition, pinostilbene showed the protozoal death rate of 50% or more at 250 ppm or more, and thereby, it could be confirmed that the protozoal killing effect was significantly excellent in the same manner.

From the above description, those skilled in the art to which the present application pertains will be able to understand that the present application may be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential characteristics. In this regard, it should be understood that the examples described above are illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present application should be construed as including all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims to be described below and equivalent concepts rather than the detailed description above, in the scope of the present application. 

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A method for preventing, alleviating or treating coccidiosis, comprising a step of administering a composition, comprising a compound of Chemical formula 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient, to an animal:

in which R₁ and R₂ may be each independently OH or OCH₃.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the R₁ is OCH₃ and R₂ is OCH₃.
 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the R₁ is OH and R₂ is OH.
 15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the R₁ is OH and R₂ is OCH₃.
 16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the coccidiosis is induced by an Eimeria sp. protozoan.
 17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the preventing, alleviating, or treating coccidiosis is at least one selected from the group consisting of the following (1) to (4): (1) reduction of at least one selected from the group consisting of lesion score, fecal oocyst excretion amount and mortality; (2) inhibition of weight loss due to coccidiosis; (3) increase of an anticoccidial index (ACI); and (4) reduction of cell invasion of an Eimeria sp. protozoan, propagation of the protozoan in cells, or both of them.
 18. The method according to claim 12, wherein the composition is a feed composition comprising 1% (w/w) or less of the active ingredient based on the total weight.
 19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the composition is a feed additive.
 20. A method for killing Eimeria sp. protozoan, or inhibiting cell invasion or propagation of Eimeria sp. protozoan, comprising a step of administering a compound of Chemical formula 1, or a salt thereof, to an animal:

in which R₁ and R₂ may be each independently OH or OCH₃.
 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the R₁ is OCH₃ and R₂ is OCH₃.
 22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the R₁ is OH and R₂ is OH.
 23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the R₁ is OH and R₂ is OCH₃. 